Apparatus for forcing leather uppers against a shoe last in the toe region thereof

ABSTRACT

A FLEXIBLE U-SHAPED BAND IS ENGAGED IN CENTRAL REGION THEREOF BY THE PISTON OF A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER AND THE END PORTIONS OF THE BAND ARE SIMILARLY ENGAGED BY PISTONS OF HYDRAULIC CYLINDERS, SAID PISTONS ACTING ON THE BAND THROUGH PIVOTAL JOINTS TO CAUSE THE BAND TO CONFORM TO   THE SHAPE OF THE LAST AND PRESS A TURNED-OVER SHOE UPPER THEREAGAINST WHEN THE PISTONS ARE EXTENDED.

Jan. 5, 1971 T. LFFLER 3,551,927

y APPARATUS FOR FORCING LEATHER UPPERS AGAINST A SHOE LAST IN THE TOE REGIONv THEREOF' Filed May 16, -1969 United States Patent O 3,551,927 APPARATUS FOR FORCING LEATHER UPPERS AGAINST A SHOE LAST IN THE TOE REGION THEREOF Tilo Ller, Gersbacher Strasse 20, Winzeln, Germany Filed May 16, 1969, Ser. No. 825,183 Claims priority, application Germany, May 16, 1968, 1,760,426 Int. Cl. A43d 21/00 U.S. Cl. 12-14.4 9 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A flexible U-shaped band is engaged in a central region thereof by the piston of a hydraulic cylinder and the end portions of the band are similarly engaged by pistons of hydraulic cylinders, said pistons acting on the band through pivotal joints to cause the band to conform to the shape of the last and press a turned-over shoe upper thereagainst when the pistons are extended.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a device adapted to cooperate with an overhaul and adhesive type lasting machine for forcing leather uppers against a last in the toe area, after overhaul of the uppers, by means of a exible band of plastic, or other flexible material. With lasts, or shoes having toe styles of pronounced asymmetrical configuration, this operation becomes diicult inasmuch as the uppers in the sloping Iportion of the toe are either not sufficiently pressed against the last or not at all. The reason for this is that, in the conventional machine, the toe bands do not exert a balanced and suitably regulated pressure in all directions around the toe of the shoe, and also, the toe bands are not adapted for suflicient deformation.

An object of the invention is to provide means including a flexible toe band which will exert a uniform pressure against the uppers and last along the entire toe contour, this pressure `being Iperpendicular to the contour line at all points thereon.

A further object of the invention is to apply force to the toe band at a plurality of locations thereon to cause the toe Iband to conform to the shape of the last in the toe region thereof.

According to the invention, the central region of the toe band is engaged by a rst displacement means and the end portions of the band are engaged by second displacement means, the rst and second displacement means cooperatively applying force to the band in a common plane to cause the band to conform to the shape of the toe of the last and apply the upper against said last.

The first displacement means is connected to the central region of the band by a joint which provides at least transverse freedom of movement of the central region of the band with respect to the last to enable accommodation of the band to the last. Such joint may afford pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to said plane of the forces, such axis being offset from the central region of the band to furnish said transverse freedom of movement.

The second displacement means is connected to lateral joints on the end portions of the band to form pivota connections and upon actuation of the displacement means, the band deforms and accommodates itself to the shape of the last. The band is preferably constituted of a ilexible, plastic material which is preferably reinforced with a strip of elastic sheet steel which carries the joint at the central region of the band and at the end portion.

CII

With the above arrangement according to the invention, the toe band can deform freely in order to adapt to asymmetrical toes of right and left shoes. Moreover, in the end portions of the band, the second displacement means not only applies the -band perpendicularly against the last but also pulls the band along the last.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a plan view of the machine according to the invention, partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation View of the machine; and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line A-A in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawing, therein is shown a flexible, elongated band 1 adapted for pressing an upper against a last K. The band 1 is of U-shaped as shown in FIG. 1 and it includes a central region and two legs or end por-` tions. The band may be constituted of a synthetic plastic resin which may be reinforced with a flexible metal strip 1a.

The band 1 is adapted for being applied against last K in the toe region thereof and for this purpose there are employed a central hydraulic cylinder arrangement 6 and two lateral cylinder arrangements 10y as will be explained more fully later.

The strip 1a in the central region of the band 1 carries a coupling 2 which is provided with a -bore in which is engaged a pin 3 of a connector 4 secured to the end of a displaceable piston 5 of the hydraulic cylinder arrangernent 6. The piston 5 is displaceable in the plane of the longitudinal axis of the last K and the piston 5 displaces the central region of the lband towards and away from the last K while the coupling 2 and connector 4 form a articulated joint permitting pivotal movement of the central region of the band about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement of piston 5. Moreover, since the pivotal axis passes through pin 3 which is offset from the central region of the band proper, the central region of the band has a transverse freedom of movement with respect to the toe of the last K. This enables the central region of band 1 to conform to the shape of the tip of the toe of the last when the piston 5 thrusts the central region of band 1 against the last.

The legs or end portions of band 1 have joint elements 7 projecting laterally outwards thereof as seen in FIG. 1. The elements 7 are engaged by noses 13 at the ends of crossbars 8, said elements 7 and noses 13 having curved surfaces to provide a lockable engagement therebetween as will be explained later.

The cross-bars 8 are connected to pistons 9 in cylinder arrangements 10 such that the cross-bars 8 extend laterally of the axis of displacement of the pistons 9. Thus the engagement of projections 7 and noses 13 is oifset from the axis of displacement of pistons 9. The cylinder arrangements 10 are connected by pivots 11 to the frame or shear head 12 of the machine so that the cylinder arrangements can pivot about axes passing through pivots 11. The cylinder arrangements 10 contain recall springs attached to the cross-bars 8 to urge the same and the pistons 9 therewith to retracted positions in which the end portions of the band 1 are relaxed and do not apply the upper against the last.

The cylinder arrangements 6 and 10 are located in a common plane which is offset from the center plane of band 1 as shown in FIG. 2. When the cylinder arrangements are activated by supplying pressure fluid thereto, the band is displaced towards the last K by forces applied to the central region and to the end portions of the band 1, said forces lying in a common plane corresponding to the center plane of band 1 which is parallel to the surface of the sole of last K.

In operation, the cylinder arrangements 6 and 10 are sequentially supplied with pressure uid and the band 1 is forced against the last to press the upper, which is overhauled on said last, against said last. The lateral cylinder arrangements are usually activated together and this may precede or follow the activation of cylinder arrangement 6, this operation being effected by actuation of a suitable valve (not shown).

After the cylinder arrangements are deactivated, the band 1 is relaxed and a subsequent pressing operation can be effected.

As has been explained, the provision of the articulated joint between piston and the central region of the band 1 enables the band 1 to accommodate itself to the curvature of the toe of the last, and similarly by reason of the lateral engagement of noses 13 and joints 7, and the offset pivotal support of the cylinder arrangements at pivots 11, the legs of the band 1 are urged in a direction oblique to the longitudinal axis of the last K and are applied against the sides of the last and conform to the shape thereof. The curved interengaged surfaces of joints 7 and noses 13 provide a lockable engagement therebetween while permitting a small amount of relative turning to accommodate pivotal movement of the cylinder arrangement 10 about pivot 11 and pivotal movement of the leg of the band 1 about the central region thereof. The force applied by the noses 13 against their associated joints 7 not only produces pressure of the legs of the band normal to the last but also the legs are pulled axially on the last to insure tight engagement and conformance of the band to the last. Consequently, the band 1 is applied along its entire length, against the contour of the last K, with substantialy uniform pressure, at approximately right angles thereto.

This enables the same band to be employed for greatly asymmetrical toes of right and left shoes. The entire toe band installation can be assembled on the swivel head of the overhaul and adhesive type lasting machine.

What is claimed is:

1. A machine for forcing leather uppers against a shoe last in the toe region thereof, said machine comprising a flexible, elongated band adapted for pressing an upper against a shoe last in the toe region thereof, said band having a central region and opposite end portions, a irst displacement means for producing thrust in a particular direction, joint means between said first displacement means and said central region of the band to enable said first displacement means to displace said toe band in the central region thereof in said particular direction towards and away from the last while permitting at least transverse movement of said central region of the band with respect to said first displacement means, second displacement means engaging said end portions of the band to displace the same in substantially the same plane in which the central region is displaced to apply the end portions of the band against the last, and means at said end portions of the band engageable by said second displacement means to lockably engage the same.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said joint means comprises a pivotal connection between said first 4 displacement means and said band to provide pivotal movement of said central region of the band about an axis perpendicular to the direction of thrust of the first displacement means. i

3. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means at the end portions of the band are laterally projecting joint elements, said second displacement means comprising displaceable cross-bars engaging said joint elements to urge said end portions laterally with respect to said central region.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said joint elements and cross-bars have curved engageable surfaces.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein said second displacement means comprises a pair of cylinders, and displaceable pistons in said cylinders, said cross-bars extending laterally with respect to the direction of displacement of the pistons and each having one end attached to a respective piston and an opposite end engaging a respective joint element.

6. A machine as claimed in claim 5 comprising a base supporting said first displacement means, and means connecting said cylinders to said base for pivotal movement about an axis extending perpendicular to said plane.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein said crossbars extend perpendicularly from said piston.

8. A machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said band has a U-shape with legs constituting said end portions, said first and second displacement means acting on said central region and legs to cooperatively apply the band against the last along the entire length thereof.

9. A machine for forcing leather uppers against a shoe last in the toe region thereof, said machine comprising a flexible, elongated band adapted for pressing an upper against a shoe last in the toe region thereof, said band having a central region and opposite end portions, a irst displacement means for producing thrust in a particular direction, joint means between said rst displacement means and said central region of the band to enable said first displacement means to displace said toe band in the central region thereof in said particular direction towards and away from the last while permitting at least transverse movement of said central region of the band with respect to said first displacement means, and second displacement mans engaging said end portions of the band to displace the same in substantially the same plane in which the central region is displaced to apply the end portions of the band against the last, said band being constituted of a flexible, plastic material including a metal reinforcing strip carrying said joint means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,051,968 9/1962 Meier 12-14.4X 3,115,649 l2/l963 Kamborian et al. 12-144 3,372,414 3/1968 Arsenault l2-14.4X

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 12-8.2 

